Snow removing mechanism



R E u A L K E w SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Filed May 19, 1937 Sheets-Sheet Mov-MAW W. E. MAME@ SNOW REMOVING MEGHANISM Filed May 19, 1937 7 sheets-sheet 2 SIMM /m/eff;9

R E U A L K E W SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 19, 1937 E. ma SNOW REMOVING MECHA'EISM Filed May 19. 1937 V v sheets-sheet 4 De@ E, im.; W, E KLAUER 2,223,372

SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Filed May 19, 1937 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 gmc/1MM m, M-QLQWEW W; E. Mmmm 29g-3m SNOW REMOVINQ MECHANISM Filed May 19, 1937 'i' Sheets-Sheet 6 W. E. KLAUE snow nmovma MEGHANISM Filed May 1.9, 1937' 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Senf" o @WVG -48 #V/fer E AVM/ef;

Patented: Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE 8 Claims.

application is composed of a number of sectionsV or parts which by suitable apparatus may be extended into operative positlon or may be telescoped together, in which latter position it will beA compact and low enough to permit the truck to pass below or beneath a low bridge or underpass.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a snow removal chute which may be easily controlled by the operator of the mechanism when the same is in extended position, and which may be easily folded, collapsed and telescoped into inoperative lowered position.

Another object of the invention` is to provide such a snow removal chute, which is mounted above .the snow removal mechanism, and which by easy manipulation may be changed from lowered position to extended position and vice versa.

The invention has for another object the provision of a snow removal chute which is of extremely simple construction but which, at the same time, is sturdy enough to withstand the most strenuous usage.

Still other objects will be apparent from the following description when vtaken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents a :front elevation of the snow removal chute in extended position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the snow removal chute in lowered folded and telescoped position; Y

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the snow removal chute shown as mounted on snow removal mechanism disposed in front of a motor truck;

Fig. 4 is a similar but enlarged View of the snow removal chute per se;

Fig. 5 is an elevation view of the lowest section of lthe snow removal chute;

Fig. 6 is a view of the top edge of the lowest section of the snow removal chute;

Fig. 'Z is a side elevation of the second section of the snow removal chute:

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one edge of Fig. 7. Y

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the second section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is an elevation view of the third section of the snow removal chute;

Fig. 1l` is a bottom plan View of the third 5 section;

Fig. 12 is an elevation view of the fourth or tip end section of the snow removal chute;

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the fourth or tip section; and,

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail' view of the end of the rod for controlling the position of the fourth `or tip section.

The present invention may be employed, for example, with the type of snow removal apparatus disclosed in my copending application S. N. 95,688, now Patent No.-2,l44,311. Such snow removal mechanism is mounted in -the front of a ,motor truck in such manner as to permit up and down vertical movement. Referring specilcally now to the drawings described above, the snow removal mechanism is generally indicated by the rreference character A.

From Fig. `1 it will be noted that the snow removal chute is composed of four sections 2, 4, 6 and 8. The lowermost section 2 of the chute is mounted on the casing of thesnow removal apparatus A in such a way as to be stationary and rigid therewith atall times. This may be accomplished byA providing a lateral ange 3 on the lower edge of the section and by securing the ange to the snow removal mechanism A by welding, rivets or 'the like.

Section 2, shown specically in Figs. 5 and 6, is composed of two sides and a back, the sides being in the shape of a sector of a circle but of less width at the top than at the bottom. As shown in Fig. 6, the front is open so that the section is channel shaped. The edges at the top are bound by a reinforcing member i0. The section 2 is held stationary by means of a brace I2 secured to the reinforcing member l0. The brace I2 in turn is secured to another brace lf3, the lower end of which is attached to a plate secured rigidly with the casing A, and the upper end of which is secured rigidly to an upright I6. As shown in Fig. 4 there are two of these uprights I6 and they are secured at their lower end to a cross brace I8 which in turn is rigidly mounted on the snow removal apparatus A.

As is customary and as indicated in my copending. application, S. N. 95,688, led August 12, 1936, the snow removal apparatus is provided with a blower disposed in a fan casing. In Fig. 1 o! the present drawings, this fan casing is indi- 56 cated by dash and dot linesand the lowermost section 2 of the snow removal chute is disposed so as to be directly above the opening of the fan casing. I

The reference numeral 20 indicates an axle which is mounted in I uprights i6. Rigidly mounted on this axle 20 so as to turn with the same are the rods 22 which in raised position form continuations ofthe uprights I6 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the snow removal chute is in closed position, as shown in4 Fig. 2, the rods 22 take the position indicated therein. As shown in Fig. 4, these rods 22 are braced by braces 24 and 26, the inner ends of which4 are pivotally mounted on the axle 20. 'I'he outer or lower ends of the braces 26 are secured to the uprlghts I6 and the outer or upperends of the braces 24 are secured to the rods 22.

' The second section of the chute is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Generally, it is shaped like section 2. Its top is braced with a reinforcing edge 28 which extends at the rear beyond the section proper on both sides and the extended portions are provided with apertures as at 30 through which passes an axle rod 3l. The lower edge of the second section 4 is provided with a reinforcing edge 32 which likewise extends out beyond the section proper. This extended portion is provided with an aperture 34. The reference numeral 35 represents a diagonal cross brace, the end 36 of which, as shown in Fig. 8, is bifurcated. There is one cross brace 35 on each side of the section. Q

When in raised position the second section 4 assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. The section has a larger cross-section than the section 2 and this makes it possible to telescope the second section over the first section when the chute is in lowered position as shown in Fig. 2. When the chute is in upright or operative position, the

second section is held in place by means of the brace rods 38 and 39 as shown in Fig. 1. There are two of each of these rods, one on each side of the chute. The upper ends of the brace rods 39 are provided with aligned apertures and a rod 31 is passed through these apertures andthrough the apertures 34 in the reinforcing edge 32 at the lower edge of the section 2. The rods 38 :also are provided with apertures at their upper ends through which the rod 31 passes. are thus pivotally mounted on the rod 31. 'I'he lower ends of the rods 38 are adapted to engage in openings 5 in the flanges 3 of the section 2. (See Figs. 1 and 5.) The inner surfaces of the lower ends of the rods 38 are provided with inwardly directed lugs which are adapted to engage the openings 1 in the sides of the section 2 when the rods are engaged in the openings 5. The openings 5 and 1 are shown clearly inFig. 5. The section 4 is braced at its upper endl by the rods 22, the upper ends of which have notches which engage the axle rod 3|.

The third section indicated in the drawings by the reference numeral 8 is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. It is provided with a brace reinforcing edge 40 at its lower end and diagonal braces 42. The reinforcing edge and the diagonal braces extend beyond the body of the section at the rear and are'provided at their extended ends with apertures 44 and 46 respectively. The reinforced lower edge on each side is provided with laterally extending pins 48, which, when thev section is in upright position, pass through the apertures 49 in bifurcated sections 3 6 of the diagonal bracing rod 35 in the second section. When in such raised The rods 38 position the apertures 44 on the lower reinforcing edge oi' the section 6 are engaged by the axle rod 3i.

The fourth or tip end section 8 in the drawings is shown in detail in Figs. 12 and 13. It is provided with a reinforcing edge 50 and diagonal brace rods 5I on each side of the section which are provided with apertures 52. Each ybrace rod is also provided with a rigid arm a portion of which runs parallel to the bracing rod 5|. These arms are indicated by the reference numeral 54. When the snow chute is in raised operative position this fourth section is hinged on a rod 51 which passes through the twogapertures 52 of this section and-also through the apertures 46,1n the diagonal brace rod 42 of the third section 6.

The fourth or tip end section 8 may be adjusted by the operator of the device through the following linkage system described more specifically in my copending application led of even date. The double-armed lever 58 pivoted at 6B is connected by means of a rod 62 to one of two arms 64, one on each side of the chute. The arms 64 are pivotally mounted on the axle rod 31.

The upper end of the arms 64 are pivotally connected by means of rods 66 to arms 68 pivotally mounted on the axle rod 3l. The other ends of the rods 68 are pivotally connected to rods 10, the ends of which are provided with notches and pivoted notch members 1i, as shown in detail in Fig. 14. The notches engage the pins 12 which rigidly connect the braces 50 and the arms 54 on the tip end section 8 and are retained in engaged positions by the pivoted notch members 1-I.

As shown in Fig. 2 the formation of the notches and the notch members is such that when the chute is extended from lowered position as shown in that figure to raised position as shown in Fig. 1, the notches will automatically engage the pins 12 and will be locked in position by the notch members which may only be released from locked position manually.

From the above it will be apparent that operation of the belt crank lever 58 clockwise about its pivot by any suitable mechanism such as by iluid pressure means, will, through the linkage system referred to, result in raising the end tip section 8 about its pivot; while counter-clockwise movement of the double-armed lever 58 about its pivot 6l) will result in lowering the end tip section 8. The position of the tip section can thus be controlled so as to direct the path of the removed snow accurately.v

When the snow removal chute is in raised po@ sition, it will be seen that cables 14, one on each side of the chute, are connected at their free ends to the rod 31. They then pass over pulleys I6 rotatable on the ax-le 20 near each end thereof (see Figs. 3 and 4) and nally over drums 18 rigid on an axle 80 adapted to be driven by a hand crank 82 or other suitable means.

When it is desired to lower the snow removal hood from its extended position to its lowered position, shown in Fig. 2, only a few simple operations are necessary. First, the lower rods of the rods or beams 38 are released from engagement with the openings 5 and 1 by raising the sections 4, 6 and 8 slightly through operation of the hand crank 82. The rods 38 are then folded down upon the top of the casing of the snow removal mechanism. Secondly, the rod 62 in the linkage systern for controlling the end tip section is disengaged either from the arm 58 or the arm 64 and foldedvdown on the casing of the snow removal mechanism. Thirdly, the pins 48 which connect the third section4 6 to the second section I by passing through the apertures in the resilient bifurcated ends 36 of the diagonal brace rods 35 on the second section, are released. Fourthly, it is necessary to disengage the outer ends of the rods 10 so that the notch members 1i no longer engage the pins 12. In order to permit the second section to telescope down over the first section, it is, of course, necessary to let out the cables 14 from the drums 18. This permits the rod 39 to swing downwardly about its pivot Il, and simultaneously results in turning the axle and consequently the uprights 22 so that they drop to the position shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to raise the snow removal chute to extended or operative position, the hand crank 82 should be wound up and this will result in drawing in the cables on the drums and in raising the rods 3S about their pivot points 4I .and the uprights 22 upwardly about the axle rod 20 and consequently in raising the section l to the position shown in Fig. 1. The lwer ends of the rods 38 are then again slipped into the openings 5, and the rod 62 is connected to the arm 58 or the arm 64. Prior to raising the second section 4 by drawing in the cables as described, the third and second sections should, of course, be connected by engaging the pins 48 in the apertures 49 in the bifurcated ends 36 of the diagonal brace rods 85. The notch members at the end of the rods 18 should also be slid over the pins 'l2 to engage the same. 'l'.hev

arrangement is then in raised operative position.

The construction described provides a very satisfactory means for directing snow removed from a city street into a truck to be carted away. In raised operative position the arrangement is sturdy and eicient. Moreover, in such position it may be adjusted by the operator from the cab of the truck so as to control' the direction of discharge.

Furthermore, by a few simple manipulations,

the arrangement may be folded and telescoped to a lowered position (see Fig. 2). In such latter and inoperative position, it is in position for traveling between jobs. This lowered position enables the truck to travel more swiftly at such times and permits the device to pass beneath low bridges and garage door openings without damage. y

Obviously, changes can be made in the struc ture without departing from the inventive concept and I do not intend to be limited to the exact structure shown and described except as indicated in the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A snow removal chute for use with'snow removal apparatus having means for discharging snow therefrom, comprising, a plurality of curved channel-shaped members including a rst member adjacent said snow discharging means and a second member telescoping with said rst member, a tip section pivoted at the outer end of said second member, means for supporting said members in expanded position to form a continuous channel-shaped passage for directing the discharged snow away from the snow removal apparatus with said tip section extend- I ing beyond the lateral limits of the snow removal apparatus, and means to guide said members into telescoped relation with one ananother to a lowered inoperative position in which the chute and tip section are within the lateral limits of the snow removal apparatus.

2. A snow removal chute for use with snow removal apparatus having means for discharging snow therefrom, comprising a plurality of curved channel-shaped members including a ilrst member adjacent said snow discharging means and a second member telescoping with said iirst member, a. tip section pivoted at the outer end of said second member, means for supporting said members in expanded position to form a continuous channel-shaped passage for directing the discharged snow away from the snow removal apparatus with said tip section extending beyond the lateral limits of the snow removal apparatus, and means to guide said second member to swing into a lowered inoperative position telescoped with said ilrst member in which the chute and tip section are within the lateral limits of the snow removal apparatus.

3. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said second member comprising two hingedly connected parts collapsible in said inoperative position to lower the height of the chute.

4. A snow removal chute for use with snow removal apparatus having means for discharging snow therefrom, comprising a frame, a plurality of curved channel-shaped members including a first member adjacent said snow discharging means and a second member telescoping with saidfirst member, a tip section pivoted at the outer end of said second member, means for supporting said members on said frame in expanded position to form a continuous channel-shaped passage for directing the'discharged snow away from the snow removal apparatus with said tip section extending beyond the lateral limits of the snow removal apparatus, and means comprising links pivoted to said frame and to longitudinally spaced parts of said second member to guide said second member to swing into a lowered inoperative position telescoped with said first member and in which all of said members and tip section are within the lateral limits oi' the snow removal apparatus.

5. A snow chute for use with Ysnow removal apparatus having means for discharging snow therefrom, comprising, a curved channel-shaped member mounted on the snow removal apparatus over the point of snow discharge, a second curved channel-shaped member of slightly larger crosssection than said first member, a third curved channel-shaped member pivoted to said second member, at the upper edge thereof, said third `member being of slightly larger cross-section than said second member, a tip section channelshaped member pivoted at the upper outer edge of said third member, 'said tip section being of slightly larger cross-section than said third section, means for supporting said second, third and tip section members above said rst member to form therewith a continuous unbroken curved channel-shaped passage for directing the snow discharged from the snow removal apparatus, or for supporting said member in inoperative lowered position in which all of said members are within the lateral limits of the snow removal apparatus.

6. A snowl chute for use with snow removal apparatus having means for discharging snow therefrom, comprising, a curved channel-shaped member mounted on the snow removal apparatus over the point of snow discharge, a second curved channel-shaped member of slightly larger crosssection than said iirst member, a third curved channel-shaped member Apivoted to said second member, at the upper edge thereof, said third member being of slightly larger cross-section than said second member, a tip section channelshaped member pivoted at the upper outer edge of said third member, said tipsection being of slightly larger cross-section than said third section, means for supporting said second, third and tip section members above said first member to form therewith a continuous unbroken curved channel-shaped passage for directing the snow discharged from the snow removal apparatus, said means comprising a pair of spaced uprights mounted on the snow removal apparatus one on each side of said members and extending substantially to the upper level of the iirst member, an axle rotatably mounted in the uprights at their upper ends, a pair oi extensions the lower ends of which are rigidly mounted on said axle and the upper ends of which are secured to the pivot connecting the second and third members, a pair of rods pivotally connected at their inner kends to points on the uprights near their bases andat their upper ends to the lower outer edge of the second member, cables secured at their free ends at the lower outer edges of the second member, passing over pulleys rigid on said axle and thence to drums, and means for winding and unwinding the cables on the drums to effect raising or lowering of the channel-shaped members.

7. A snow chute for use with snow removal apparatus having means for discharging snow therefrom, comprisingba curved channel-shaped member mounted on the snow removal apparatus over the point of snow discharge, a. second curved channel-shaped member of slightly larger crosssection than said rst member, a third curved channel-shaped member pivoted to said second member, Iat the upper edge thereof, said third member being of slightly larger cross-section than said second member, a tip section channelshaped member pivoted at the upper outer edge of said third member, said tip section being of slightly larger cross-section than said third section, means for supporting said second, third and tip section ymembers above said first member to form therewith a continuous unbroken curved channel-shaped passage for directing the snow discharged from the snow removal apparatus, or for supporting said members in lowered inoperative position in which all of said members are within the lateral limits of the snow removal apparatus, means including a linkage system for swinging said tip section to any one of a plurality of positions about its pivot point.

8. A snow removal chute for use with snow removal apparatus having means for discharging snow therefrom, comprising, a snow directing section mounted on said snow removal apparatus at the point of snow discharge. at least one additional snow directing section, collapsible means for supporting said additional section or sections in raised position to form with said rst section a continuous unbroken passage for the discharged snow, or in lowered inoperative position in which all of said sections are within the lateral limits of the snow removal apparatus, said collapsible means including a stationary upright member, a rod secured to .the additional section or sections and pivoted near the base of said upright, and manually operable means including a windlass and a ilexible cable secured thereto and passing over a pulley supported by said upright substantially above said pivot point and then, to the end of said rod for raising and lowering said additional section or sections to operative or inoperative position.

WALTER E. KLAUER. 

